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CTA construction update: Austin accessibility project, RPM station progress and DBE/workforce numbers
Summary
Chief Infrastructure Officer Bill Mooney and Director of Diversity Programs Juan Pablo Prieto updated the board on traction-power substations, the Lake (Austin) all-stations-accessibility project, Red-Purple Modernization progress and DBE/workforce attainment figures for RPM Phase 1.
Chief Infrastructure Officer Bill Mooney told the board the Canal, Damon and Berry traction-power substation projects are in late commissioning and testing phases; Damon was described as near live commissioning. Mooney said commissioning steps include load/stress testing and SCADA integration before energization.
Mooney described ongoing work on the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Austin (Green Line) station. He said the project will make Austin a fully accessible station and that the team secured federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funding to support the project. Mooney described converting a historic exit at Mason into a temporary entrance during construction and significant streetscape and ramping work to provide accessible paths of travel.
On Red-Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase 1, Mooney showed progress at Bryn Mawr, Argyle and Lawrence stations: escalators at Bryn Mawr in commissioning, canopies and granite flooring at Argyle, and station finishes progressing at Racine. He also described traction power upgrades at Morgan and rehabilitation work at the Hermitage substation. At Clark Junction the team is completing track and third-rail installation and preparing for full four-track operations in the near term.
Juan Pablo Prieto reported DBE and workforce figures for RPM Phase 1 through Jan. 31: he said "122 unique DBEs have been awarded over $293,000,000 between the design and construction packages on RPM Phase 1." He reported more than $208,000,000 of payments to DBEs and said Walsh (the prime) was on track to meet workforce goals with over 2,600 unique individuals working 2,270,000 labor hours and wages exceeding $135,000,000. Prieto described recent DBE certification drives, a quarter 1 workforce outreach event and a DBE outreach event that drew prime contractors, DBEs and workforce partners.
Board members asked about replicating the STP funding strategy for sidewalk and path-of-travel improvements, environmental-review timing (NEPA) and whether connected-communities funding and obligated grants are at risk. Mooney said the CTA considers obligated federal grants (he cited the Connecting Communities grant awarded Dec. 2024) binding and that Austin’s recent NEPA findings helped accelerate project planning.
Mooney and Prieto said outreach included events at Altgeld Gardens, Kennedy King, and Build, Inc., and that a 2025 small-business educational cohort had 28 firms enrolled as of February.
